The Precipitron
A Short History of Domestic-Electric Air Scrubbing
A Short History of Domestic-Electric Air Scrubbing
Precipitrons, or electrostatic precipitators, are a common, if hidden, air scrubbing appliance, nested within nearly 66% of today’s homes. This series looks back the technical, historical, and cultural contests linked to this oft invisible air-cleaning technology; an exploration of the socio-technical construction of atmosphere, enclosure, and air-quality regulation found in our everyday duct-work.
Meg Studer conducted the research and developed the article (below) and presentation (above) as part of her on-going interest in the climate control, especially focused on industrial/domestic technology transfers. It included boards, booklets, and annotated environments as on-going research into the anthropocene appropriation of lithics.